oneness of
humankind, whereas in all religious teachings of the past the human world
has been represented as divided into two parts: one known as the people of
the Book of God, or the pure tree, and the other the people of infidelity
and error, or the evil tree. The former were considered as belonging to
the faithful, and the others to the hosts of the irreligious and
infidel--one part of humanity the recipients of divine mercy, and the other
the object of the wrath of their Creator. Baha'u'llah removed this by
proclaiming the oneness of the world of humanity, and this principle is
specialized in His teachings, for He has submerged all mankind in the sea
of divine generosity. Some are asleep; they need to be awakened. Some are
ailing; they need to be healed. Some are immature as children; they need
to be trained. But all are recipients of the bounty and bestowals of God.

Another new principle revealed by Baha'u'llah is the injunction to
investigate truth--that is to say, no man should blindly follow his
ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own eyes, hear with
his own ears and investigate the truth himself in order that he may follow
the truth instead of blind acquiescence and imitation of ancestral
beliefs.

Baha'u'llah has announced that the foundation of all the religions of God
is one, that oneness is truth and truth is oneness which does not admit of
plurality. This teaching is new and specialized to this Manifestation.

He sets forth a new principle for this day in the announcement that
religion must be the cause of unity, harmony and agreement among mankind.
If it is the cause of discord and hostility, if it leads to separation and
creates conflict, the absence of religion would be preferable in the
world.

Furthermore, He proclaims that religion must be in harmony with science
and reason. If it does not conform to science and reconcile with reason,
it is superstition. Down to the present day it has been customary for man
to accept a religious teaching, even though it was not in accord with
human reason and judgment. The harmony of religious belief with reason is
a new vista which Baha'u'llah has opened for the soul of man.

He establishes the equality of man and woman. This is peculiar to the
teachings of Baha'u'llah, for all other religions have placed man above
woman.

A new religious principle is that prejudice and fanaticism--whether
sectarian, denominational, patriotic or political--